Fuel producing machine



July 11, 1944. c. J. MCCORMICK 2,353,481

FUEL PHODUC ING MACHINE Filed Aug. 13, 1942 2 Shets-Sheet l JNVENTOR.

Patented July 11, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FUEL PRODUCIN'GMACHINE Clarence J. McCormick, Oakland, Calif.

Application August 13, 1942, Serial No. 454,709

2 Claims.

My invention relates to engine fuels, and has among its objects andadvantages the provision of novel means for manufacturing such fuelsfrom carbides.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an end view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a conveyor, and a carbide feeding means.

Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 55 of Figure 2, and

Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line 66 of Figure 2.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, I make useof a tank I0 having a horizontal conveyor I2 mounted therein. Thisconveyor comprises an endless belt I4 operating on rollers I8 and I8.The load carrying surface of the belt I4 is provided with transversemetal plates or cleats I6.

Upon the tank I 0 is mounted a second tank having a, partition 22arranged therein at an angle to the horizontal to provide a carbidecontaining chamber 24 and a water containing chamber 26. A partition 28is interposed between the tanks I0 and I 2 and is provided with acarbide feeding opening 30 which is periodically opened and closed by ahinged door 34. This door opens downwardly and is actuated by a feedroller 36 having longitudinal grooves 38 therein for periodicallyfeeding measured quantities of carbide onto the conveyor I2. The roller36 is positioned closely to the partition 28 so that the roller movesthe door 34 to a closed position through engagement between the rollerand the door, but the door drops to an open position as the grooves 38are successively brought underneath the door.

The roller 36 is attached to a shaft 40 journaled in vertical supportingplates or walls 42. These walls lie closely to the side edges of theconveyor I2 and function as a trough to hold the carbide on the conveyoras it travels from a position closely adjacent the roller I8 to thedischarge end of the conveyor at the roller I6. A gear 44 is attached tothe shaft 40 and meshes with an idler gear 46 meshing with a gear 48fixed to a shaft 50 to which the roller I8 is attached. The idle gear 46is attached to a shaft 52 provided with a drive pulley 54 for connectionwith a belt not shown. A stuffing box 58 is provided on one wall of thetank I0 through which the shaft 52 55 extends to provide a gas-tightbearing for the shaft.

The tank I0 is provided with a flange 58 which supports the flange 60 onthe walls 42. A seal 62 is interposed between the flanges 58 and 60. Thepartition 28 lies underneath a flange 64 on the tank 20. A seal 66 isinterposed between the partition and the flange 64. A drip pan 88 islocated underneath the partition 28 and includes a flange I0 interposedbetween the partition 28 and the flange 60. A seal is also providedbetween the flange I0, the partition 28 and the flange 60. All theflanges are bolted into a unitary structure by bolts I2.

The drip pan 68 includes a bottom I4 declining from one end of the tankI0 in the direction of the roller I8. This bottom is provided withperforations I6 through which water may drip onto the carbide on theconveyor I2.

A threaded opening I8 is provided in the partition 28 for a threadedvalve rod having a portion cut away at 82 to flow water from the chamber26 into the drip pan 88. A valve 84 in the nature of a, flange is fixedto the valve rod 80 for engagement with the partition 28 to cut off theflow of water to the drip pan. The valve rod 80 extends through anopening in a cap 86 threadedly connected with a filler neck 88. A fillerneck 90 is provided for the chamber 24 and a cap 92 is threadedlyconnected with the neck 90.

A deflecting flange 94 is attached to one of the end walls 96 connectingthe walls 42 for deflecting the material dropped from the discharge endof the conveyor I2 to a more central point inside the tank I0. A scraper88 is mounted on the Walls 42 to engage the lower run of the conveyorI2.

A gas conveying pipe I00 extends vertically through the chamber 24 andhas communication with the tank I0. This pipe extends upwardly throughthe top of the tank 20 and leads to a storage tank I02 having a feedline I 04 communicating therewith and adapted for connection with anengine not shown.

A check valve I06 is incorporated in the pipe I00 above a manuallycontrolled valve I08. A manually controlled valve H0 is also interposedin the feed line I04. The tank I02 is provided with a safety valve H2and a pressure gauge H4.

The bottom IIB of the tank I0 is provided with an opening II8 normallyclosed by a door I20. This door may be opened to dump any accumulationsin the tank. In Figures 1 and 6, the door I20 is hinged at I22 to thebottom H6 and is provided with an angular member I24. A rod I26 isslidably guided in a guide I28 attached to the tank II]. This rod isprovided with a roller I30 engageable with the member I24 adapted towedge between the cover and the member, with the rod I26 engaging aroller I32 to hold the door in a closed position. Withdrawal of the rodpermits the door to swing down for dumping purposes.

In operation, the conveyor I2 moves at a relatively lowfspeed, and thevalve rod 8!] is adjusted to flow the proper amount of water onto thecarbide on the conveyor. The gases are passed to the tank II] from whichthey may be taken as a, source of engine fuel. Gases accumulating in thechamber 24 pass through a screened opening I34 in the pipe I00.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing carbide in a horizontal planein the chamber, a grooved roller rotatably mounted in the chamber inregistration with the carbide feed passage and adapted to periodicallyload measured quantities of carbide at one end of the conveyor, andselectively controlled valve means for dropping Water from the watercompartment on the carbide as it is carried from the loading to thedischarge end of the conveyor.

2. In a gas generating apparatus, a generating chamber, a tank mountedon the chamber having a carbide compartment and a water compartment, thesaid compartments communicating with the top of the chamber through feedpassages, an endless conveyor mounted in the chamber below the tank anddisposed to carry carbide in a horizontal plane in the chamber, agrooved roller rotatably mounted in the chamber in registration with thecarbide feed passage and adapted to periodically load measuredquantities of car-bide at one end of the conveyor, a perforated platesupported in inclined position above the conveyor, and exteriorlycontrolled valve means for regulating the discharge of water from thewater compartment onto the perforated plate for dropping water on thecarbide as it is carried from the loading to the discharge end of theconveyor within the generating chamber.

CLARENCE J. MCCORMICK.

